We were very lucky to get a window seat on the second leg of our journey, so we could finally view the landscape we were flying over. Thankfully the clouds disappeared and we were treated to a spectacular vista of the Middle East. As we flew over the brown desert mountains, they gradually became more rugged and snow covered. Just beautiful!

   
   
   
    
  Arrived into Rome and found our driver with the ‘Renneberg’ sign. Thanks Margaret Richmond for the advice about getting a hotel with transfers, recommended to anyone wanting to cut out any hassle and confusion at the airport!

Beautiful sunny day to greet us in Rome and a cheery and cheeky host welcomed us into our accommodation at Spagna Deluxe. Mauro was an air Stewart for 20 years with Al Italia and has made many a trip to Australia so his hospitality is of a high quality and he was able to give us good advice about what to do whilst we are here. 

   
 After a short walk through the beautiful but crowded streets of Rome we stopped for an early dinner at a restaurant called Gusto (recommended by Mauro) where we had a caprese salad 

    
(just a giant ball of buffalo mozzarella surrounded by sliced tomato and no-way-near-enough basil leaves) and a Margherita pizza 
(Nothing to write home about).

   
 Michele is now on a mission to find the best pizza in Italy! (Just an excuse to eat lots of pizza? Yes of course! Hell, let’s throw in a best red wine competition as well! ;D)

It is now 6:40pm and has been dark outside for at least an hour, we are both deriously tired and lagged and trying very hard to at least stay up until 8 before going to sleep. The Presecco that we picked up from the supermarket on the way home is definitely helping. 

   
   
That said, we both can’t wait to sleep horizontally for the first time in 30 hours. The small luxuries that you miss when you are denied of them. Until tomorrow, good night and arrivederci!